Hello

[Guest guest]

Welcome in Ohio and wife!

It amazes me how many new people keep coming to join us...and how many people who have had their lives touched in a positive way by Steve's story. .I love it!

Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been lurking for the last 2 weeks, and am just now getting around

to introducing myself. I'm .

My wife & I live & work the Canton, OH area. Between my wife's

motivation, and following Steve's travels, I decided that this was the

year I was going to drop the extra pounds, and. I had about 50 pounds to

lose (40 now).

My wife has been going to the gym, and bringing me along for motivation,

although I'm not sure who's motivating who. :-) .

I'd like to get to my target weight, then keep it off by running/walking

regularly. My initial goal is to run a 5K (not sure when). After that,

we'll see.

I've not followed all the threads on this list, but I scan through as

many posts as I have time for. I just took time tonight to enter my

steps on the AOM site, then joined Move mates, so my miles could be

added to the total.

I discovered Steve's journey about 6 weeks ago, I think from a local

newspaper story. Way to go Steve!

in Ohio

[Guest guest]

welcome, it sounds as if you and your wife are doing great.

my neighbor comes over and gets me and 'forces' me to go, it's very

good for me.

laurie

my favorite links

www.thefatmanwalking.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/thefatmanwalking_group

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Peoplewalkingandtalking

http://goliath.mail2web.com/Journals/

>

> Hi,

>

> I've been lurking for the last 2 weeks, and am just now getting around

> to introducing myself. I'm .

> My wife & I live & work the Canton, OH area. Between my wife's

> motivation, and following Steve's travels, I decided that this was the

> year I was going to drop the extra pounds, and. I had about 50

pounds to

> lose (40 now).

> My wife has been going to the gym, and bringing me along for

motivation,

> although I'm not sure who's motivating who. :-) .

> I'd like to get to my target weight, then keep it off by

running/walking

> regularly. My initial goal is to run a 5K (not sure when). After that,

> we'll see.

> I've not followed all the threads on this list, but I scan through as

> many posts as I have time for. I just took time tonight to enter my

> steps on the AOM site, then joined Move mates, so my miles could be

> added to the total.

> I discovered Steve's journey about 6 weeks ago, I think from a local

> newspaper story. Way to go Steve!

>

> in Ohio

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

complete stranger.

> >

> > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the primary care giver for

> > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

> > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > This was found out after being treated for continued pain after an

> > operation.

> > I also lost a sister in March of this year from liver cancer.

> >

> > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the stress of taking

> > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping another sister who

> > son passed away a year ago, and having some problems. She asked who

> > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings. Thinking to myself I

> > have never really sat down and talked to anyone yet, but I would

> > like to know how other care givers handle their stress, who do they

> > talk to etc.

> >

> > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a hospice nurse, so I

> > know the doctors can bs her.

> >

> > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting me join.

> >

> >

> > Kurt

> >

> I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was just diagnosed

> with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been in and out of

> the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in the later

> stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my husband,

> daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to take care of her. I

> also need some support. I think I need to get some hospice care. I was

> just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother is not yet. Well

> keep smiling the best you can.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Stefanie,

I am sorry that your mom is so ill. I read your first few posts and I want to

welcome you to the group. This group has a lot of knowledge, experience and

support to offer you.

I was going to reply to your first post and ask what the doctors diagnosed but

you answered it with the reply to Pamela. So, since the doctors do not know the

cause of the cirrhosis has she been evaluated for a transplant? Based on your

input and observations, if she hasn't she should be immediately evaluated. (in

my opinion) but I'm not a doctor.

By the way, a normal general physician can recommend or refer the patient for

evaluation but they do not determine who gets a transplant. Only a transplant

team at an official UNOS transplant center can make that decision. Do not ever

let a lay person or doctor tell you that she is not a candidate. Let a

transplant center make that decision.

I lost my wife to cirrhosis and no one brought up transplant until a year too

late. So I try to advocate the necessity of early evaluation.

What you are going through is very challenging. But, be your Mom's advocate. You

will have to learn to speak up on her behalf. Read about this disease because

knowledge is power. Especially with doctors.

Which leads me to a tough question. Does your mom have a medical power of

attorney? You will need this to make important decisions when she is mentally

impaired. Which she is with hepatic encephalopathy. This isn't something that

comes and goes. The symptoms of it may be slight or exaggerated, but it is

continuous and is a major complication of cirrhosis. I will post more about this

complication in a later post.

I wish and hope the best for your mother and you.

MaC

stefanieputnam wrote:

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

complete stranger.

[Guest guest]

Stefanie,

Your poor mom, I just want to give you and her a hug.

I hope the doc gives you some leeway on the lactulose. Mom's doc said 15-30 ml

1-4 times a day as needed. So I would give it to her until she got diarrhea

then back off a bit, lower the dose for the rest of the day with the knowledge

that if she got confused again I could up the dose. If you have to wait to get

permission every time she acts strange/confused it seems like that isn't

providing her with the appropriate amount of comfort when she needs it. I

would ask for a " range " dose, so you can give as needed. Can you just call, or

do you have to take her in?

My mom had non alcoholic cirrhosis, she took Rheumatoid Arthritis medicines for

the last 8 yrs, was not told how to avoid cirrhosis. And the final straw, she

fell, broke her back, had a spinal fusion/lamenectomy which was a traumatic

surgery and resulted in her going into DIC which could've been caused by the

cirrhosis. The liver can be damaged in a lot of different ways.

Yes I was anxious, so much unknown. I think knowledge, research, taking charge,

staying busy kept me from crawling out of my skin. Also my faith is strong, I

know what the future holds so I don't fear death, but the dying process was

unknown to me. What was going to happen day-to-day, how mom's disease would

affect her life, would she have a lot of pain, how would I handle it, was I

doing all that I could to help her, ....those were thoughts I had. It was very

stressful. The home health nurse answered many questions, researching the dying

process helped me a lot as well, so I knew as things changed what to expect

next. Tough stuff, but I believe we are given grace in the dying process, and

grace in grief. We are incredibly strong, we can do so much more than we think.

In my weakness He is strong.

Stefanie, I can't remember if you mentioned this in your first post, did your

mom get evaluated for a liver transplant?

We know what you are going through, you aren't alone.

Hang in there! Let us know how it goes with the doc.

Pamela

Re: Hello

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

complete stranger.

> >

> > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the primary care giver for

> > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

> > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > This was found out after being treated for continued pain after an

> > operation.

> > I also lost a sister in March of this year from liver cancer.

> >

> > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the stress of taking

> > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping another sister who

> > son passed away a year ago, and having some problems. She asked who

> > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings. Thinking to myself I

> > have never really sat down and talked to anyone yet, but I would

> > like to know how other care givers handle their stress, who do they

> > talk to etc.

> >

> > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a hospice nurse, so I

> > know the doctors can bs her.

> >

> > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting me join.

> >

> >

> > Kurt

> >

> I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was just diagnosed

> with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been in and out of

> the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in the later

> stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my husband,

> daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to take care of her. I

> also need some support. I think I need to get some hospice care. I was

> just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother is not yet. Well

> keep smiling the best you can.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Pamela thank you for the support. I really could use a hug, so could

my mom. Yes the dosage says 1-4, I usually give her 3. When I don't

she gets constipated. Her and I have IBS(irritable bowel syndrome). We

both get constipated very often. She actually does well on the 3 to 4

dose. The doctors told us that she was not healthy enough to get a

liver transplant. They said it would probably kill her. I really don't

know what to do. I worry about her all the time. I worry if I am doing

enough for her. I feel very over whelmed. My mother and I have a

strong faith, but I still fear her dying. I know I will see her again

after that happens, but it is still hard to accept. I know Heavenly

Father will take care of her and I.

> > >

> > > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the primary care

giver for

> > > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the

liver.

> > > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > > This was found out after being treated for continued pain

after an

> > > operation.

> > > I also lost a sister in March of this year from liver cancer.

> > >

> > > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the stress of taking

> > > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping another

sister who

> > > son passed away a year ago, and having some problems. She

asked who

> > > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings. Thinking to myself I

> > > have never really sat down and talked to anyone yet, but I would

> > > like to know how other care givers handle their stress, who do

they

> > > talk to etc.

> > >

> > > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a hospice nurse,

so I

> > > know the doctors can bs her.

> > >

> > > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting me join.

> > >

> > >

> > > Kurt

> > >

> > I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was just diagnosed

> > with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been in and out of

> > the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in the later

> > stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my husband,

> > daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to take care of

her. I

> > also need some support. I think I need to get some hospice care.

I was

> > just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother is not yet.

Well

> > keep smiling the best you can.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

- I also have cirrhosis of unknown origin. or rather, not known

which of the possible causes it could be. I think it is a combination of

them. My family has a history of liver problems, not all the same but they

say that doesn't matter, it is all liver. Also, for years I wasn't treated

for a thyroid condition and then years later, I was significantly under

treated. Just before my bypass surgery in April I finally got a doctor to

order the special test to see how much medication is getting to my brain,

not how much is in my blood. They doubled my meds again. And for years I

have been very over weight. I was also on meds for arthritis which can

aggravate the liver. But as my pcp keeps telling me, it really doesn't

matter what caused it, I have it and have to deal with it. When I first was

diagnosed with it, the quack quack dr. I had at the time kept telling me to

quit drinking, told him every time I didn't drink. Problem with pcps and

lesser specialists, they think they know more than they do. I believe what

the ultimate specialist tells me such as the doctor who does transplants.

Jan H

On Tue, Jul 29, 2008 at 12:56 PM, stefanieputnam

wrote:

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

> > >

> > > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the primary care giver for

> > > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

> > > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > > This was found out after being treated for continued pain after an

> > > operation.

> > > I also lost a sister in March of this year from liver cancer.

> > >

> > > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the stress of taking

> > > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping another sister who

> > > son passed away a year ago, and having some problems. She asked who

> > > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings. Thinking to myself I

> > > have never really sat down and talked to anyone yet, but I would

> > > like to know how other care givers handle their stress, who do they

> > > talk to etc.

> > >

> > > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a hospice nurse, so I

> > > know the doctors can bs her.

> > >

> > > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting me join.

> > >

> > >

> > > Kurt

> > >

> > I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was just diagnosed

> > with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been in and out of

> > the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in the later

> > stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my husband,

> > daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to take care of her. I

> > also need some support. I think I need to get some hospice care. I was

> > just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother is not yet. Well

> > keep smiling the best you can.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you.

Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team take

great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been transplanted

near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important that the doctor who

said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a hepatologist?

MaC

stefanieputnam wrote: MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I was at the ER of my University hospital yesterday complaining of an unusual

sore throat, with a white cottage cheese like lesion on the back of it. Funny

how you say that they ensure patient safety. I was checked for strep, it came

back negative, and they sent me on my way. 24 hours later, after having been to

an urgent care center (different from an ER, not attached to a hospital) and

been diagnosed with thrush, my airway is 50% closed. I am in a panic. If it

closes anymore, I will have to have a tube. Those A-holes over there didn't even

entertain the possibility of thrush. It can happen as a result of low white

cells. Last week my routine bloodwork showed very low absolute monocytes, mine

being 179 and normal ranging from 200 to 900. I am pissed, but more than that I

am scared to death, becuase I am having a hard time swallowing, and breathing. I

see 911 in my future.

Re: Re: Hello

Thank you.

Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team take

great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been transplanted

near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important that the doctor who

said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a hepatologist?

MaC

stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote:

MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I was referring to the transplant team when your being evaluated by them.

ER is a whole different ball of wax.

MaC

Bob Aragon wrote: I was

at the ER of my University hospital yesterday complaining of an unusual sore

throat, with a white cottage cheese like lesion on the back of it. Funny how you

say that they ensure patient safety. I was checked for strep, it came back

negative, and they sent me on my way. 24 hours later, after having been to an

urgent care center (different from an ER, not attached to a hospital) and been

diagnosed with thrush, my airway is 50% closed. I am in a panic. If it closes

anymore, I will have to have a tube. Those A-holes over there didn't even

entertain the possibility of thrush. It can happen as a result of low white

cells. Last week my routine bloodwork showed very low absolute monocytes, mine

being 179 and normal ranging from 200 to 900. I am pissed, but more than that I

am scared to death, becuase I am having a hard time swallowing, and breathing. I

see 911 in my future.

Re: Re: Hello

Thank you.

Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team take

great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been transplanted

near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important that the doctor who

said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a hepatologist?

MaC

stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote:

MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Walking Eagle

 

My friend up in Alabama that died of cirrhosis/varices kept getting thrush over

the years. 3 or 4 times a year he would come down with thrush. Oh Oh, the

medical community was convinced it was from his ALD. The would give him some

crap called Majic Swish-n Swirl and it would clear up only to return a few monts

later.

 

Come to find out it was being caused by his nasty a** dentures that he would

just lay around anywhere. He had the whole medical community certain that it was

due to cirrhosis. I am sure the cirrhosis didn't help  but it took a dentist to

see the problem and correct it. He would lay them down anywhere. Fishing once he

laid them on the floor of the boat. You know those ol' boats always had

about inch of water in the bottom because the drain plug was about an inch and a

half above the bottom and splashing around all day guaranteed a little water in

the boat.

 

As kids Momma always told us that putting change (coins) in our mouth would

cause thrush. None of us ever got thrush...we never had any money.

 

You are right on. These Dr.s can be wrong. Thats why they call it " practicing "

medecine.

 

Good Luck WE

 

Hope you get to feeling better

MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up

at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bob Some women get thrush or what they call a vaginal infection. I had one

incident of it, and then after that it would be in my throat. One of the

things I was told is that it is common after taking certain antibiotics.

They supposedly get rid of something in the system that ordinarily controls

what causes thrush so the thrush gets out of control. In my experience, the

thrush probably isn't just in the throat or vaginal, but that is where it

shows itself. I get very tired, exhausted when I have it, so I think it is

all through the body. It is very painful, and you need to do something. I

always got a prescription from my doctor, might be similar to what abijann

said you could do. Hope you get some relief soon. Jan H

On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 3:34 AM, Bob Aragon wrote:

> I was at the ER of my University hospital yesterday complaining of an

> unusual sore throat, with a white cottage cheese like lesion on the back of

> it. Funny how you say that they ensure patient safety. I was checked for

> strep, it came back negative, and they sent me on my way. 24 hours later,

> after having been to an urgent care center (different from an ER, not

> attached to a hospital) and been diagnosed with thrush, my airway is 50%

> closed. I am in a panic. If it closes anymore, I will have to have a tube.

> Those A-holes over there didn't even entertain the possibility of thrush. It

> can happen as a result of low white cells. Last week my routine bloodwork

> showed very low absolute monocytes, mine being 179 and normal ranging from

> 200 to 900. I am pissed, but more than that I am scared to death, becuase I

> am having a hard time swallowing, and breathing. I see 911 in my future.

>

> Re: Re: Hello

>

> Thank you.

> Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

> University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

> Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

> evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

> different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team

> take great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been

> transplanted near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important

> that the doctor who said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a

> hepatologist?

>

> MaC

>

> stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote: MaC

> Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> Thanks again

> Stefanie

>

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you Jan. I am glad to see you around. I did get exactly what our resident

guru (Abijann you amaze me) said, and it seems to be making things better.

Thanks Abijann. I'm swishing 4 times a day and at least all the white spots are

mostly gone. Now the only problem is that my throat has swelled up in size to

twice what it was. This morning I was so close to going in by ambulance, but

afraid if I did they would want to intubate me. Does anybody know why my

absoloute monocytes could be low? Love, Bobby

Re: Re: Hello

>

> Thank you.

> Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

> University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

> Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

> evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

> different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team

> take great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been

> transplanted near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important

> that the doctor who said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a

> hepatologist?

>

> MaC

>

> stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote: MaC

> Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> Thanks again

> Stefanie

>

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Praying for you Bobby!

Love,

Pamela

Re: Re: Hello

>

> Thank you.

> Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

> University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

> Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

> evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

> different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team

> take great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been

> transplanted near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important

> that the doctor who said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a

> hepatologist?

>

> MaC

>

> stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote: MaC

> Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> Thanks again

> Stefanie

>

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pamela.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Re: Re: Hello

Praying for you Bobby!

Love,

Pamela

Re: Re: Hello

>

> Thank you.

> Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

> University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

> Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

> evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

> different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team

> take great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been

> transplanted near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important

> that the doctor who said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even a

> hepatologist?

>

> MaC

>

> stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote: MaC

> Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> Thanks again

> Stefanie

>

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I am so sorry you are feeling this way and going through this....I do know a

little bit about thrush bc one of my best friends daughters had this for quite

sometime.....babies get it sometimes when they are nursing from their mothers

and if the mother is taking some sort of antibiotic they pass it to the

baby....they did give the baby some sort of medication and it did go away

eventually.....Did they give you meds for it?  From what I know it will clear up

soon......gosh sometimes we give the doctors too much credit I think.

MaC

Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

Thanks again

Stefanie

Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> complete stranger.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Walking Eagle,

 

Some people get thrush after a long battery of antibiotics. It has happened to

me twice. As an adult, although thrush is possible at any age one mostly hears

about it in children. I never had it to the extent you describe with the throat

swelling for me it was mostly just white blisters on the roof of my mouth. I can

sympathize  with you when one has thrush they feel horrible. That Majic Swish

and Swirl should take care of it. If it where me I would go have that throat

swelling checked out again. Better safe than sorry.

 

The other time I came down with a horrifying case of thrush was years back when

I was hitting the Vodka and Pineapple Juice hot and heavy. That was miserable. I

" figured " (?) it was either the juice or the vodka/or a combination of both that

was killing the good germs we have in our bodies. That was Little Eagle's

diagnosis a not from a medical professional. It was more of an assumption on my

part. I can see why liver damage could contribute to it. At the time I had no

idea I had liver damage. Pineapple Juice is good for a person but 30 glasses a

day half full of vodka can't be, know what I mean?

 

Godspeed on feeling better.

MaC

> Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> Thanks again

> Stefanie

>

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that

I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got

back up at 4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her

levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The

doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to

a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Bobby - glad to be around. I seem to be getting some energy back after my

triple bypass three months ago. But having trouble with severe arthritis in

the lumbar area. Supposed to be taking meds to help, but my insurance

denies them. Hoping the request can be put differently so they will approve

it. Also, my grandson came to stay after my surgery as I wasn't supposed to

be alone. He decided to stay, got a job, and I have to make the most of his

work schedule to get on my computer. I keep telling him it is my computer

so I should have first chance at using it, but he gets invovled in long

online games. Glad to hear you are getting some relief. Hopefully, it will

continue to increase in the next few days. Sorry, I know nothing about

absolute monocytes J an H

On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:51 AM, Bob Aragon wrote:

> Thank you Jan. I am glad to see you around. I did get exactly what our

> resident guru (Abijann you amaze me) said, and it seems to be making things

> better. Thanks Abijann. I'm swishing 4 times a day and at least all the

> white spots are mostly gone. Now the only problem is that my throat has

> swelled up in size to twice what it was. This morning I was so close to

> going in by ambulance, but afraid if I did they would want to intubate me.

> Does anybody know why my absoloute monocytes could be low? Love, Bobby

>

> Re: Re: Hello

> >

> > Thank you.

> > Can I ask what type of doctor you had seen at the University Hospital?

> > University Hospitals are usually learning hospitals.

> > Was the doctor someone from a transplant team? Was she ever sent for an

> > evaluation? For a doctor to just say she won't survive the operation is

> > different than being evaluated by a transplant team. The transplant team

> > take great controls to ensure patient safety. Many patients have been

> > transplanted near death and some while even in a coma. So, it's important

> > that the doctor who said no was the right doctor to say that. Was he even

> a

> > hepatologist?

> >

> > MaC

> >

> > stefanieputnam <stefanieputnam@ yahoo.com> wrote: MaC

> > Thank you for the information. Sorry to hear about your wife.

> > When we took my mother to the University of Utah hospital we asked

> > them if she would be able to get on the list for a liver transplant.

> > They told us that her health was too poor and she would probably die

> > faster with a liver transplant than she would if she didn't. She has

> > high blood pressure, she had her gallbladder taken out 2 years ago.

> > Her health has been going down hill since 2003. I don't know what to

> > do. I agree that hepatic encephalopathy is a continuous thing. She has

> > more severe symptoms when she has a UTI or has sever symptoms of

> > ascites. Right now I need to find a home health company who will come

> > more often than the one we have now. They come maybe 20 min. a week.

> > Thanks again

> > Stefanie

> >

> > Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and anxiety

> > > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad that I

> > > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at 4am and

> > > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her levels

> > > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this job. It

> > > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The doctors

> > > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange talking to a

> > > complete stranger.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Jan

Sorry to hear you have Cirrhosis. Ya some doctors don't know much at

all. When some of the symptoms of my mom's liver disease started

manifesting themselves, the Dr. kept telling us that she had Bipolar.

We had no clue. They put her on depression meds. and antiphsychotics,

some times 10 different ones at a time. None of them helped only made

her skinny and lethargic. It wasn't until feb. 2008 that they did a

liver biopsy and found out that she had advanced Cirrhosis. I don't

have much faith in Doctors.

> > > >

> > > > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the primary care

giver for

> > > > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

> > > > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > > > This was found out after being treated for continued pain after an

> > > > operation.

> > > > I also lost a sister in March of this year from liver cancer.

> > > >

> > > > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the stress of taking

> > > > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping another

sister who

> > > > son passed away a year ago, and having some problems. She

asked who

> > > > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings. Thinking to myself I

> > > > have never really sat down and talked to anyone yet, but I would

> > > > like to know how other care givers handle their stress, who do

they

> > > > talk to etc.

> > > >

> > > > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a hospice nurse,

so I

> > > > know the doctors can bs her.

> > > >

> > > > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting me join.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Kurt

> > > >

> > > I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was just diagnosed

> > > with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been in and out of

> > > the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in the later

> > > stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my husband,

> > > daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to take care of

her. I

> > > also need some support. I think I need to get some hospice care.

I was

> > > just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother is not yet.

Well

> > > keep smiling the best you can.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Mac

I believe they were just regular doctors. Who would I need to contact

in order to see if she would qualify? A liver specialist maybe? I live

in Southern Utah and we don't even have a hepatologist in this town.

Salt lake City Utah is only 5 to 6 hours away, we could take her

there. The University of Utah Hospital, where we took her, is in Salt

Lake City. It is suppose to be one of the best hospitals in the USA.

I don't know where to go from here.

> Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and

anxiety

> > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad

that I

> > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past couple of

> > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an hour. I

> > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the toilet and

> > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear and her

> > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with her arms

> > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing and she

> > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at

4am and

> > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her

levels

> > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this

job. It

> > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The

doctors

> > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange

talking to a

> > complete stranger.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I don't understand why it took so long to diagnose. St. Utah is

such a small town with few doctors. Some of the ones we have see so

many elderly patients that you end up being just a number to them. My

moms Gastro. Doc. acts that way and there is not another one we can go

to in this town. I believe he just didn't really care what was wrong

with my mom. One time we went to an appointment with my mom and he

started talking about her having diabetes and all this other

information. Well my mom does not have diabetes, he was talking about

another patient. Unbelievable to say the least. My mom had her

gallbladder taken out 2 years ago. When we got all her hospital

records a couple months ago, it says that he saw severe scarring on

the liver when he did the surgery. They never gave that information to

us or my mother back then. I would think that was malpractice.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the

> primary care

> > > giver for

> > > > > > > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic

> cirrhosis of

> the liver.

> > > > > > > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > > > > > > This was found out after being treated for

> continued pain

> after an

> > > > > > > operation.

> > > > > > > I also lost a sister in March of this year from

> liver cancer.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the

> stress of

> taking

> > > > > > > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping

> another

> > > sister who

> > > > > > > son passed away a year ago, and having some

> problems. She

> > > asked who

> > > > > > > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings.

> Thinking to

> myself I

> > > > > > > have never really sat down and talked to anyone

> yet, but I

> would

> > > > > > > like to know how other care givers handle their

> stress, who do

> > > they

> > > > > > > talk to etc.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a

> hospice nurse,

> > > so I

> > > > > > > know the doctors can bs her.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting

> me join.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Kurt

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was

> just

> diagnosed

> > > > > > with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been

> in

> and out of

> > > > > > the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in

> the later

> > > > > > stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my

> husband,

> > > > > > daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to

> take care of

> > > her. I

> > > > > > also need some support. I think I need to get some

> hospice care.

> > > I was

> > > > > > just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother

> is not yet.

> > > Well

> > > > > > keep smiling the best you can.

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Mac, Thank you for the information

> > Thank you for the support. I was wondering if you had fear and

> anxiety

> > > about your mother dying before she actually passed away? I have

> > > terrible fear and anxiety about it. Some times it can be so bad

> that I

> > > will have a panic attack. She has had a UTI for the past

couple of

> > > days. She is now on antibiotic for it. We had a long night. She

> > > started to get encephalopathy. She was on the toilet for an

hour. I

> > > finally went in there and she had poop all over her, the

toilet and

> > > the rug and she was wiping it up with her sock. I put her in the

> > > shower and cleaned up. I gave her some clothes and came back 20

> > > minutes later. She had her top undergarmet on like underwear

and her

> > > diaper over it. She had her bottom garmet on her head with

her arms

> > > stuck out of the leg holes. I asked her what she was doing

and she

> > > said " I don't know " . Finally got her to bed and got back up at

> 4am and

> > > cleaned up another poop mess. We are going in today to have her

> levels

> > > tested. I kept thinking last night, who signed me up for this

> job. It

> > > is very hard to watch my mother who is 59 go through this. The

> doctors

> > > can't even give us a reason that she has Cirrhosis. She has never

> > > drank, never had hepatitis and is not obese. I do not understand.

> > > Thanks for being willing to listen. It is kind of strange

> talking to a

> > > complete stranger.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Stefani - My 'doctor' (using 'doctor' instead of doctor because he wasn't

very good, we called him quack, quack) was told about a couple of conditions

I had by specialists he sent me to. He never told me, but claimed he had

because he put it in my chart. I think when you live in a small town, the

best doctor you can get for your general care is one who will refer you to a

specialist when something systemic seems to be a problem. When I had my

gall bladder taken out about 18 months ago, my surgeon also did a biopsy on

my liver because he was aware of my cirrhosis. He told me about it saying

that he thought I would prefer to have him do it then, know how much it had

changed since my original one, and not have to go through the procedure to

have it done from the outside. I really appreciated that. Then he sent the

results to my gastro and hemotologist for them to interpret since that is

really more their field than his. This is a doctor I like. one who makes

me feel I am being cared for medically. Since you live in St. which

is even a smaller population than we are staffed for, I am not surprised it

would take a doctor there to diagnose a serious illness. My quack, quack,

did the same thing with diabetes with me as your mother's doctor did. When

it became obvious what he was talking about, I told him I didn't have

diabetes, and he looked at my chart to find out that I didn't have it. Even

my doctors when I had the bypass thought I had copd, never had it diagnosed,

never told I had it, but they started treating me for it. I had asthma

induced by medication they gave me after I had told them it induced asthma

in me. grrrrrrrrrrr.

You mention that most of the patients your doctors see are elderly. I think

doctors are influenced in their diagnosis by the patients they see. If they

see elderly people, they expect certain things. I have been told too that I

am getting older and should expect to be bothered by certain things. But, I

am 10 to 20 years younger than most of their patients. Granted most of the

people around here are in better physical shape than I am even though they

are actually older. Sorry for rambling, still have some mental

disorientation left from the surgery I guess hahahahaha Jan H

On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 7:57 AM, stefanieputnam wrote:

> I don't understand why it took so long to diagnose. St. Utah is

> such a small town with few doctors. Some of the ones we have see so

> many elderly patients that you end up being just a number to them. My

> moms Gastro. Doc. acts that way and there is not another one we can go

> to in this town. I believe he just didn't really care what was wrong

> with my mom. One time we went to an appointment with my mom and he

> started talking about her having diabetes and all this other

> information. Well my mom does not have diabetes, he was talking about

> another patient. Unbelievable to say the least. My mom had her

> gallbladder taken out 2 years ago. When we got all her hospital

> records a couple months ago, it says that he saw severe scarring on

> the liver when he did the surgery. They never gave that information to

> us or my mother back then. I would think that was malpractice.

>

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Hi to everyone, my name is Kurt and I am the

> > primary care

> > > > giver for

> > > > > > > > my wife who was told she has non-alcoholic

> > cirrhosis of

> > the liver.

> > > > > > > > According to her doctors she is in stage 4.

> > > > > > > > This was found out after being treated for

> > continued pain

> > after an

> > > > > > > > operation.

> > > > > > > > I also lost a sister in March of this year from

> > liver cancer.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I was asked by my wife how I am handling all the

> > stress of

> > taking

> > > > > > > > care of her, my sister passing away, and helping

> > another

> > > > sister who

> > > > > > > > son passed away a year ago, and having some

> > problems. She

> > > > asked who

> > > > > > > > do I talk to about my concerns and feelings.

> > Thinking to

> > myself I

> > > > > > > > have never really sat down and talked to anyone

> > yet, but I

> > would

> > > > > > > > like to know how other care givers handle their

> > stress, who do

> > > > they

> > > > > > > > talk to etc.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Oh what is bad(possible good), my wife is/was a

> > hospice nurse,

> > > > so I

> > > > > > > > know the doctors can bs her.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Anyway sorry to ramble on, and thanks for letting

> > me join.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Kurt

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I am so sorry to hear about your wife. My mother was

> > just

> > diagnosed

> > > > > > > with Cirrhosis of the liver in feb. 2008. She has been

> > in

> > and out of

> > > > > > > the emergency room 7 times in 3 months. She is also in

> > the later

> > > > > > > stages of liver Cirrhosis. She has been living with my

> > husband,

> > > > > > > daughter and I for a month. It is very draining to

> > take care of

> > > > her. I

> > > > > > > also need some support. I think I need to get some

> > hospice care.

> > > > I was

> > > > > > > just wondering if your wife is bed ridden. My mother

> > is not yet.

> > > > Well

> > > > > > > keep smiling the best you can.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >